2 minute read
Is Lanzarote right that ain’s tourism industry? anzarote over
than other nationalities or that bars encourage this behaviour. Our bar certainly doesn’t accept that sort of behaviour.
“Yes, people get drunk but we don’t make them drink and if anything untowards kicks off they will be asked to leave.”
Paul, who runs the Emerald Isle in the Costa Blanca South, agreed, saying: “We at the Emerald Isle have been running our hospitality business for almost 25 years in this part of Spain and have catered to people of all nationalities during that time.
“I can only speak from our own specific experience but the area we are in is very familyorientated and we have not witnessed any of the behaviours reported recently in the media.
“Of course, there will be examples of antisocial behaviour in certain areas of Spain due to the influx of tourists every year, but this particular area is occupied by many families who have made their lives here, is very safe and incidents of anti social behaviour are few and far between.”
Heidi, who runs Black Flame in Moraira, told the Euro Weekly News : “We don’t get customers like that. Ninety per cent are British, whether holidaymakers or they live here, and on St Patrick’s Day for example, they won’t be loud or rowdy. They’re just there to have a nice time.”
Alain, from Universal Lounge Bar in Albir, the Costa Blanca North, argued that the accusations by Lanzarote’s president shouldn’t be levelled at one nationality in particular. He said: “In the 15 years running the Universal Lounge Bar in Albir, and having over 150 beers we’ve never had any problems with whatever nationality with bad behaviour or drunk situations.
“And here we have 96 nationalities living together with the third biggest group of British origin.”
Several parts in Spain have now an nounced plans to cap the number of tourists with some even introduc ing tough regulations that target drunken behaviour.
The Balearic Islands, which have historically been party tourism hotspots, last year imposed rules that banned ‘happy hours, pub crawls, two for one drink offers, and the sale of alcohol in shops be tween 9:30pm and 8am’.
A drink limit was also imposed in several resorts in Magaluf, El Are nal and Ibiza.
One of Mallorca’s most famous party resorts, Playa de Palma also reportedly banned people from wearing football shirts in restau rants.
The government in the Balearic Is lands, which includes Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, al so declared a cap on tourists last month, before the announcement made by Lanzarote. However, until the president of Lanzarote’s state ment that British had been singled out so explicitly.
Before the announcement, officials claimed that the reason for this is due to extremely high number of tourists.
“The number of visits reached this year is a maximum that should not be exceeded but should tend to decrease. There must be a clear trend towards the reduction of tourist places,” said Iago Negueruela, Balearic Islands tourism minister.
While a crackdown on irresponsible drink touting and cheap deals can only help everyone businesses and tourists alike the hospitality industry is firm that excess drinking is not limited to Britons.
And with Brits contributing around more than €17 billion of Spain’s tourism income each year up to the pandemic, Lanzarote may be wise to take note of this.
